Start with stored safe water
The CDC recommends at least one gallon per person, per day, for three days, with a two-week supply if possible. Include additional needs for heat, pregnancy, illness, pets and accessibility. Use appropriate food-grade containers, label, and rotate according to CDC guidance.
Simple household actions
- Calculate occupants × 3 days × 1 gallon, then adjust for local needs.
- Store commercially bottled water when possible, or follow CDC instructions for filling suitable containers.
- Keep basic hand hygiene supplies and a separate sanitation plan for toilet service interruptions.
- Learn your utility's official advisory channels before an emergency.
- Know where to seek properly tested water if your supply is contaminated.
Do not mistake clear water for safe water. Boiling can kill many germs but cannot remove most chemical contaminants. Biosand filters are not a universal solution for industrial runoff, solvents, salinity or heavy metals. Follow official testing and treatment instructions for the actual hazard.
Community project
A Circle can help households calculate water needs, translate official safety instructions, inventory publicly accessible distribution sites and coordinate with authorized water or emergency providers. Do not present FFTAC volunteers as a water utility or medical authority.